New Face Of Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Wedge

In the wake of the 2010 groove rule changes golf club manufacturers had to take a fresh look at how they could maximise control and spin in irons and wedges.

Cleveland answered this with the original 588 RTX wedge that was the best spinning wedge they'd ever made.

So how could they improve on that? By pushing the spin to the limit and adding the versatility that is so essential to shots played from 125 yards and in.

Extensive research coupled with feedback from the Tour highlighted the importance of the versatility of wedges to golfers, be it to match the conditions they play in or the individual nature of players' short games.

Unlike the original Rotex wedge that was only available with a cavity back, the Rotex 2.0 comes in both cavity back and with a traditional muscle back to appeal to both improving wedge players who need the forgiveness a cavity back offers and the better player who prefer the classic head shape.

Both of these head styles benefit from the next generation of spin thanks to the refined Rotex face technology that Cleveland say pushes the limits to take spin and control to the next level.

The games governing bodies not only legislate on the grooves of the clubface but also any roughness on the hitting area of the club. The rules state that:

The surface roughness within the area where impact is intended must not exceed that of decorative sandblasting or of fine milling. For milling the Crest to trough depth must not exceed 0.025 mm.

The face of the Rotex 2.0 is the classic Cleveland 588 shape and on it the engineers have developed a two part process to reach the legal limit for roughness to increase spin on pitch and chip shots.

Firstly the advanced 2 Pass Rotex micro milling process creates a strategically designed roughness across the whole club face and then this is fine tuned by laser milling between the grooves to provide additional consistency and texture across the face.

The Tour Zip grooves, now in their fourth generation, are updated with steeper walls and sharper radii, so that more grass, dirt and moisture is channelled away from the face to give golfers cleaner contact and more consistent spin from all lies.

The new face design and the control it gives has been noticed by Cleveland Tour player Keegan Bradley:

Short game is all about precision and these Rotex 2.0 wedges allow me to control my ball flight and distances better than ever before.

Having allowed golfers to pick the style of wedge they prefer, Cleveland has taken versatility a step further by creating three distinct grind options for the 588 RTX 2.0 to maximise performance based on turf conditions, players individual preferences and skill levels.

By progressively altering the sole design in line with the bounce of the club Cleveland can offer an array of bounce and loft combinations to let players choose the best wedges for their games.

The three grinds are easily identified by the simple use of one dot for low bounce grind, two dots for standard bounce grind and three dots for full sole grind on the sole of the clubs.

Low Bounce Grind

The Low Bounce Grind has been designed to offer the lowest effective bounce of 6° to 8° to allow players to play aggressive shots from anywhere around the green.

The Low Bounce Grind is a combination of a trailing edge grind and maximum relief at both the heel and the toe of the club so players can be creative from even the tightest of lies. As such this grind is perfect for playing in firm conditions and for players who tend to attack the ball with a shallow angle.

The Low Bounce Grind is available in lofts of 54°, 56°, 58° and 60°.

Standard Bounce Grind

Providing an effective mid bounce ranging from 8° to 12° depending on the loft option the Standard Bounce Grind is designed to be a versatile wedge that will perform well in most conditions.

The moderate trailing edge grind and relief in the heel and toe areas offers players the optimal combination of versatility to play a number of shots whilst maximising forgiveness around the greens.

The Standard Bounce Grind is available in lofts of 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°, 62° and 64°.

Full Sole Grind

The Full Sole Grind offers player a higher range of effective bounce from 14° to 16° that allows the club to smoothly glide thorough any surface.

As the name suggests the consistent sole width gives players the confidence to strike the ball on full wedge shots whilst still providing shot options around the green. This grind is ideal for play on softer courses and for players who have a steep angle of attack.

The Full Sole Grind is available in lofts of 54°, 56°, 58° and 60°.

The combination of versatility and spin in the 588 Rotex 2.0 is something that has impressed Tour Player Graeme McDowell:

I've been very impressed with the updated Rotex technololgy. There are some great new bounce and grind options that will allow versatility for both pros and amateurs. Really, it's just a great wedge.

All of the Cleveland 588 Rotex 2.0 wedges are available in a satin chrome or a black pearl finish.